An Etymological Review of the Lizards of Iran: Families Lacertidae, Scincidae, Uromastycidae, Varanidae
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International Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 3(5): 322-329, 2011 ISSN: 2041-2908 © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2011 Submitted: July 28, 2011 Accepted: September 25, 2011 Published: October 15, 2011 An Etymological Review of the Lizards of Iran: Families Lacertidae, Scincidae, Uromastycidae, Varanidae 1Peyman Mikaili and 2Jalal Shayegh 1Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran 2Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, Shabestar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran Abstract: The etymology of the reptiles, especially the lizards of Iran has not been completely presented in other published works. Iran is a very active geographic area for any animals, and more especially for lizards, due to its wide range deserts and ecology. We have attempted to ascertain, as much as possible, the construction of the Latin binomials of all Iranian lizard species. We believe that a review of these names is instructive, not only in codifying many aspects of the biology of the lizards, but in presenting a historical overview of collectors and taxonomic work in Iran and Middle East region. We have listed all recorded lizards of Iran according to the order of the scientific names in the book of Anderson, The Lizards of Iran. All lizard species and types have been grouped under their proper Families, and then they have been alphabetically ordered based on their scientific binominal nomenclature. We also examined numerous published works in addition to those included in the original papers presenting each binomial. Key words: Etymology, genera, iran, lizards, Middle East, species, taxonomy. INTRODUCTION comprising the fauna of Iran, including Field guide to the reptiles of Iran, (Vol. 1): lizards (Rastegar-Pouyani, According to our knowledge, there is an evident lack 2006). We also examined numerous published works in of such a reference in the literature about the etymological addition to those included in the original papers review on the nomenclature of all up-to-now discovered, presenting each binomial, all listed in the reference collected and recorded lizards of Iran (also for other section. We represent in this article the explanations of Asiatic countries). As we mentioned in our previous the Families: Lacertidae, Scincidae, Uromastycidae, article, the observation and study of lizards has been long Varanidae. a fascinating interest for at least one of the authors of this article. The book of Anderson, The Lizards of Iran METHODOLOGY (Anderson, 1999) turned our attention to study the lizards more deeply, especially the ones occur in Iran. At the first Taxa are listed in systematic order following; The step we focused on the common English, Farsi and Lizards of Iran (Anderson, 1999). Orders, families, and scientific names of the lizards. The published paper of subfamilies, if appropriate, are given. Genera and species Braun and Mares (Braun and Michael, 1995) provided a are arranged alphabetically. The authority and date are substantial template for our idea to accomplish this aim. given after each species name. Whenever possible. Then publication of the book "Field guide to the reptiles derivations of names are given. Original literature also of Iran, volume 1: lizards" (Rastegar-Pouyani, 2006) was consulted for explanations of names or for clues in guided and facilitated our project. We believe that a the descriptions. We have listed all recorded lizards of review of these names is instructive, not only in codifying Iran according to the order of the scientific names in the many aspects of the biology of the lizards, but in latter book; (Although two species have been left presenting a historical overview of collectors and taxonomic work in Iran and Middle East region. unnumbered in the book, we have included both in the numerical order). All lizard species and types have been MATERIALS AND METHODS grouped under their proper Families, and then they have been alphabetically ordered based on their scientific Taxa: The listing of lizards of Iran was based primarily binominal nomenclature. The lizards were numbered from on The Lizards of Iran (Anderson, 1999), and 1 to 62 within brackets. We have presented current supplemented with other experience with the species scientific name, the author named the species with the Corresponding Author: Peyman Mikaili, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran 322 Int. J. Anim. Veter. Adv., 3(5): 322-329, 2011 date, the synonym(s) if present, the English and Farsi fringe-toed lizard, [Fa. sãsm~r-e-angosht rishehd~r- [Fa.] names and a main reference especially dealt with e-eshm§t], that specific species or type. Then we have analyzed all of Synonym: Acanthodactylus schmidti Salvador 1982; the Genera and also the epithets as they encountered. The (Anderson, 1999). original source of the word roots and their meanings have schmidti-Named after K. P. Schmidt, the zoologist been mentioned from Greek (Gr.), Latin (L.) or other and explorer of amphibians and reptiles of Iran. languages, e.g. Spanish (Sp.), Arabic (Ar.) etc. The (7) Eremias acutirostris (Boulenger, 1890), Reticulate additional explanations added if appropriate. desert lacerta, [Fa. l~sert~-e-biy~b~n§ moshabbak], Synonyms: Scapteira acutirostris Boulenger 1887, Etymology of scientific names: Scapteira acutirostris Das 1996; (Anderson, 1978). (1) Family: Lacertidae Eremias-Gr. Eremias is a noun meaning <solitary Acanthodactylus blanfordi Boulenger 1918, devotee’, and is related to Eremia, signifying <an Blanford's fringe-toed lizard, [Fa. sãsm~r-e-angosht isolated place or desert’ (Arnold et al., 1978). rishehd~r bl~nford], acutirostris-acut-, L. acutus sharpened + rostr-, L. Synonyms: Acanthodactylus cantoris Blanford 1876, rostrum snout (Maggenti, 2005). Acanthodactylus blanfordi Das 1996; (Rastegar- Scapteira-Gr. skápteira, feminine of skaptér digger, Pouyani et al., 2009). delver (Liddell and Robert, 1885). Acanthodactylus-acanth-, Gr. akantha thorn, spine + (8) Eremias andersoni Darevsky and Szczerbak 1978, dactyl-, Gr. daktylos finger (Maggenti, 2005). Anderson's racerunner, [Fa. l~sert~-e-anderson], blanfordi-This species has been named after William Synonym: Rhabderemias andersoni Welch 1983; Thomas Blanford (1832 - 1905), member of the (Dareysky and Szczerbak, 1978). Geological Survey of India. andersoni-Named after Steven Clement Anderson, cantoris-cantoris genitive of L. cantor singer (Lewis, the famous zoologist and explorer of Iranian lizards. 1969); referring to animal's cry. Rhabderemias-rhabd-, Gr. rhabdos rod Borror, 1988 (2) Acanthodactylus boskianus Daudin, 1802, Bosc's + Eremias (see [7]). fringe-toed lizard, [Fa. sãsm~r-e-angosht rishehd~r (9) Eremias arguta Pallas, 1773, Arguta, [Fa. ~rgãt~], bosk] Synonyms: Lacerta arguta Pallas 1773, Podarcis Synonyms: Lacerta boskiana Daudin 1802, arguta Strauch 1876; (Ataev, 1988). Acanthodactylus boskianus R-Pouyani 1999; arguta-L. arguta (feminine), argutus (masculine) (Rastegar-Pouyani, 2000). sharp, quick, (compare with English argute); past boskianus-Named after Louis-Augustin-Guillaume participle of L. arguere to argue (Klein, 1983). Bosc d’Antic, French zoologist (Bosc d’Antic, 1792). Podarcis-pod-, Gr. pous foot, leg + arc-, L. arcus (3) Acanthodactylus grandis Boulenger 1909, Giant arch, bow (Borror, 1988); referring to the arched or fringe-toed lizard, [Fa. sãsm~r-e-angosht rishehd~r bow-shape legs of the species; The final part may be bozorg], also compared with L. arca and arctus meaning Synonyms: Lacerta boskiana Daudin 1802, <small, short, compact, close, firm, fast’, also hence Acanthodactylus fraseri Boulenger 1918; (Anderson, <muscular power in joints of the limbs’ (Lewis, 1999). 1969). grandis-adjective L. grandis meaning <great, large’, (10) Eremias fasciata Blanford 1874, Sistan racerunner, and also <bulky, massive, heavy’ (Lewis, 1969). [Fa. l~sert~-e-s§st~n (r~h-r~h)], fraseri-Named after Louis Fraser (1810-1866), a Synonym: Rhabderemias fasciata Das 1996; British zoologist. (Anderson, 1999). (4) Acanthodactylus micropholis Blanford 1874, Persian fasciata-feminine adjective of L. fasciatus banded, fringe-toed lizard, [Fa. sãsm~r-e-angosht rishehd~r bearing stripes; referring to dorsal stripes (Beltz, §r~n§], 2006). Synonym: Acanthodactylus micropholis Das 1996; (11) Eremias grammica (Lichtenstein 1823), Reticulate (Anderson, 1999). racerunner, [Fa. l~sert~-e-moshabbak], micropholis-micr-, Gr. mikros small + phol-, Gr. Synonyms: Podarcis grammica Wagler 1830, pholis horny scale Borror, 1988 Scapteira zarudnyi Lantz 1928; (Tsellarius, 1977). (5) Acanthodactylus nilsoni Rastegar-Pouyani 1998, grammica--feminine adjective of L. gramm cus, from Nilson's spiny-toed lizard, [Fa. sãsm~r-e-angosht Gr. gammikós having lines or geometrical sketches kh~rd~r-e-nilson]; (Anderson, 1999). (Lewis, 1969). nilsoni-Named after Gören Nilson, the zoologist and zarudnyi-Named after Nikola0 Alekseevich Zarudni0 explorer of amphibians and reptiles of Iran. (1859-1919), the prominent zoologist and explorer of (6) Acanthodactylus schmidti Haas 1957, Schmidt's fauna in Iran. More than 130 species of mammals, 323 Int. J. Anim. Veter. Adv., 3(5): 322-329, 2011 birds, reptiles, fish, arthropods, and mollusks variabilis-L. variabilis variable; referring to wide were named after him (Bobrinsky, 1940). difference in color (usually between males and (12) Eremias intermedia Strauch 1876, Aralo-Caspian females) (Cope, 1900). racerunner,